This is the Cato Daily podcast for Tuesday, February 18th, 2025.

I'm Caleb Brown.

It simply can't be said enough.

Immigrants, on average, consume fewer welfare benefits than Native-born Americans.

Cato's Alex Narasta details some of his most recent findings.

Alex, we have had this discussion a number of times, and yet, unfortunately, the entire population of the United States does not listen to your malefluous words on the Cater Daily podcast

explaining to them about the rates

of welfare use among immigrants

in the United States. So

we should understand

what exactly about welfare use among immigrants in the U.S.

In 2022, immigrants consumed 21% less in welfare programs and benefits than Native-born

Americans did, which is the opposite of the widespread perception,

which is that immigrants are abusing or using welfare more than Native-born Americans.

It's been the other way for as long back as we have data.

And this is just another report that shows in recent years that immigrants continue to use less welfare than natives.

And the reasoning why that would be the case is not hard to come by.

For the vast majority of welfare programs, immigrants of several varieties are not eligible. That's right. To be eligible for most of these programs, you are not eligible.

That's right. To be eligible for most of these programs,

you have to have been in the United States for five years on a green card.

A lot of immigrants who come to the United States know that their legal status is in jeopardy

if they use welfare programs unlawfully.

...